Rail-joint



P. J. FENSK'E.

BML JOINT. Arrnlcmon man APR. 5, 1920.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

MWA I l @Hoz 11mg l j UNITED spares,`

@j PAUL J. rENsKE, Aor MART, TEXAS.

lArElvr OFFICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug; 17, 1920.

Ylippntacion med April 5, 1920. 'serial No. 371,316.

This invention relates to improvements in railway rail joints, and has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character in which the confronting ends of the rails are firmly united without the use of fish plates or clamping bolts, and in which the rail ends may be quickly and readily attached to or detached from each other. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the rails are retained in alinement both laterally and vertically and wherein a continuous tread is produced which obviates all jarring and jolting by the rolling stock.

Another object of the invention is to produce a joint which may be quickly assembled by vany person Vwithout previous skill or knowledge or by unskilled labor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven- 12, of the ordinary standard pattern. Thel head portion of one rail is formed with a socket 13, while the head portion of the other rail is formed with a spur or stud'14l to engage in the socket when the rails are arrangedv to abut end to end.

The web portion 11 of one rail is formed with an upper curved seat or slot 15 and a lower curved seat or slot 16, the latter Vextending at its inner end for a distance into the body of the tie flange portion 12, as shown. f

By this means two tongues areproduced, one at 17 between the seatsv 15 and 16, and the other entirely within the body of the flange 12 as shown at 18. The free end of thetongue 18, it' will be noted, is of greater thickness than its root at the inner end of the seat 16, and with its innerV face curved.

The confronting end of the web 11 of the other rail is formed vwith tongues 19 and 20 conforming to and adapted to engage in the seats. 15 and 16, and with a downwardly opening recess or seat 21 to receive the tongue 18. The upper and lower faces ofthe tongues 19 and 2O are curvedto conform to the curvatures of the corresponding faces of the seats 15 and 16, but are less in length than the seats, as shown, to prevent binding.

The inner end of the seat 21 is cut away or inclined as shown .at 22 to permit the rails to be disposed in the required position when uniting the rails, without cramping as shown in Fig. 4.

At its transverse center, the tongue 20 is formed with a Vrib 23 which extends into the seat 22, while the tongue 18 is formed with a channel 24 directed longitudinally of the rail to receive they rib 23 when the rail ends are united, and thus supplement the force exerted by the spur or stud 14, to resist lateral displacement.

The coacting seats 15 and 16, and tongues 17, 19 and 20 extend entirely through the webs 11, and thus effectually resist vertical displacement, while the spur 14 and rib 23 coacting with the seat 13 and channel 24, effectually resist lateral displacement.

The improved device is simple in construction, and dispenses with the cumbersome and expensive fish or clamp plates and clamp bolts of the ordinary rail way rail joint.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specifications,l but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, arail joint comprising coacting rails abutting end to end, each including a head portion a web BML-JOINT.

portion and a. flange portion, the head porand the web portion of the other rail having tongues curved to correspond to and engagable in the curved sockets, and the flange of one rail cut away to form atongue and the flange of the other rail having a downwardly opening recess to receive the terminal of the flange tongue. I

Y 2. In a device of the class described, a rail joint comprising coacting rails abutting end to end, each including a head portion, a web portion and a flange portion, the head portionoit one rail having a socket and the head portion-of the other rall having a spur enhereto.`

- PAUL J 

